Former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by Philippine authorities on Tuesday, following the issuance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity linked to his deadly war on drugs.

Duterte, 79, was taken into custody upon his arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila after returning from Hong Kong, where he had earlier dismissed speculation about an impending arrest.

According to a statement from the Presidential Communications Office, the Manila office of Interpol received an official copy of the ICC warrant Tuesday morning. “Upon his (Duterte’s) arrival, the Prosecutor General filed an ICC notification for an arrest warrant against the former President for crimes against humanity,” the statement said, adding that he remains in government custody.

Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign, launched during his presidency (2016-2022), resulted in more than 6,000 deaths, according to official police data. However, independent human rights groups estimate the real number to be much higher, with thousands of extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by police and vigilantes.

The bloodshed prompted multiple investigations, including a probe by the International Criminal Court, a House of Representatives inquiry, and a Senate investigation led by a cousin of the current president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Duterte denied the extrajudicial killings but openly admitted to ordering police to “shoot suspects who resist arrest.” His administration withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019, but under the court’s jurisdiction rules, it retains authority over crimes committed during the country’s membership—covering the period from 2016 to 2019.

The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was elected in 2022, has signaled possible cooperation with the ICC. According to Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, law enforcement officials were prepared to carry out the warrant if requested by Interpol.

“Our law enforcers are ready to follow what law dictates, if the warrant of arrest needs to be served because of a request from Interpol,” Castro told reporters on Monday, according to Reuters.

Rights groups have welcomed Duterte’s detention, calling it a historic step toward justice.

“Duterte’s arrest is a critical step for accountability in the Philippines,” said Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “His detention brings victims and their families closer to justice and sends the clear message that no one is above the law.”

Responding to his arrest, Duterte questioned the validity of the ICC warrant.

“What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?” he asked in a video posted online by his daughter, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte.

Duterte built his reputation on hardline crime policies, first as mayor of Davao City and later as president. He publicly encouraged police and citizens to kill suspected criminals and even mocked human rights laws.

Before the 2016 election, he famously told a crowd:

“Forget the laws of human rights… If I make it to the presidential palace, I will do just what I did as mayor. You drug pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings, you better go out. Because as mayor, I’d kill you.”

Despite declining health, Duterte had filed candidacy papers in October 2024 to run for mayor of Davao City, a move seen as an attempt to protect his political dynasty. However, his political ambitions have now been thrown into uncertainty following his arrest.

With mounting pressure from the international community, it remains unclear whether the Philippine government will extradite Duterte to The Hague to face trial at the ICC.

While Marcos Jr. has distanced himself from Duterte’s war on drugs, handing over a former president to an international tribunal would be unprecedented in the country’s history and could have major political repercussions.

The ICC and Interpol have not yet commented on the arrest.